Morocco's Moronic Law to Blame For Death of Rape Victim?

Sometimes the law just doesn't make sense. Other times, the law can have detrimental consequences, especially in a country like Morocco. Consider Amina Filali, a 16-year-old female rape victim. She committed suicide after being forced to marry her rapist. Amina claimed to her mother that she was physically beaten during the five months of her forced marriage to her rapist yet her mother only advised patience. Now, there is finally some strong momentum to change Morocco's laws which allow rapists to marry their victims in order to avoid prosecution.

Amina Filali ended her own life by swallowing rat poison rather than continue to be married to the rat who raped her a year earlier. The forced marriage was a consequence of Article 475 of the Moroccan penal code which allows a "kidnapper" of a minor to marry his victim to escape prosecution and preserve the honor of the woman's family. Others say an Article 475 marriage is only recommended by the judge if both the victim and both families agree. However if the families agree, marriage can be forced on the victim by the families to avoid scandal. (The loss of a woman's virginity outside of marriage is a huge Scarlett letter on the whole family. Whereas, marriage restores the woman and her families honor.)

The law is difficult on rape victims when it comes to trial. The Moroccan system of justice requires the victim to prove she was raped. If she fails to meet her burden of proof, the victim can be prosecuted for debauchery. Furthermore, even if successful in the prosecution, there is a chance the rapist can avoid punishment by marrying the victim. Consequently, many rapes are believed to be unreported. Sounds like the winds of change need to blow through Morocco real soon.